Rialto Chatter: Is ROCKY Musical Headed to The Winter Garden?

Last night, Creator/Producer Judy Craymer announced that MAMMA MIA!, the global smash hit musical based on the songs of ABBA, will transfer from the Winter Garden Theatre to the Broadhurst Theatre in late 2013.

Immediately, speculation began at what might replace MAMMA MIA! in the theatre, which was previously home to CATS. Today, Michael Riedel reports that Broadway might see a Spring transfer of the Rocky musical, now running in Germany. He writes that ""Rocky das Musical" cost $20 million to stage in Germany. Sources say the price tag could hit nearly $30 million in New York. With so much money to recoup, the show would inevitably have to land at one of Broadway's largest theaters."

The world premiere of Rocky took place November 18 in Hamburg under the direction of PETER AND THE STARCATCHER Tony nominee Alex Timbers.

American actor Drew Sarich leads the cast as Rocky Balboa, joined by Dutch actress Wietske van Tongeren as Adrian. Rocky won the 1977 Oscar for Best Picture, Best Director (John G. Avildsen) and Best Film Editing. It was nominated for Best Original Song, Best Original Screenplay and Best Sound. Sylvester Stallone, who was on hand to promote the event, and Talia Shire were nominated as lead actors; Burt Young and Burgess Meredith were nominated for their supporting roles.

Rocky tells "the rags-to-riches American Dream story of Rocky Balboa, an uneducated but good-hearted debt collector for a loan shark in Philadelphia. Balboa is also a club fighter who gets a shot at the world heavyweight championship when the scheduled contender breaks his hand." The original Rocky film sparked five sequels.

The musical adaptation held a reading last year prior to the German run; the cast for the developmental lab featured Andy Karl as Rocky, Glenn Flesher as Pauly and Tricia Paoluccio as Adrienne. Rocky will be produced by Stage Entertainment, which also produced the German productions of TARZAN, THE LION KING and SISTER ACT.

The Hamburg production includes a boxing ring on which "Gold Circle" ticketed patrons will be able to stand to form a more interactive experience; fight chreography is by ONCE Tony nominee Steven Hoggett with traditional choreography by ROCK OF AGES' Kelly Devine.

As previously reported, Rocky features a book by Tony Award-winner Thomas Meehan and songs by Tony Award-winning team Lynn Ahrens (lyrics) and Stephen Flaherty (composer) - the creators of Ragtime, The Glorious Ones, and Once on This Island.